Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis is understood to have lost funding over concerns it does not do enough for men
A support group for rape victims is facing an uncertain future.
The Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis support group has been forced to close its waiting list for personal support due to a loss of funding.
It has been claimed that the funding from Children in Need was withdrawn due to concerns over the amount of support the group provides for men.
However Children in Need has denied that this was the reason for the funding coming to an end.
A statement on thesupport group’s Facebook page said that a helpline to support victims would still be provided.
The statement said: “We are so sorry for having to make this decision but recent loss of funding for our work with young women and girls has had a significant impact on our overall service provision with current waiting times of up to nine months for ongoing, face to face support.
“We will keep everyone posted about any changes to the service and, hopefully soon, when we get our waiting list open again and can offer shorter waiting times to survivors and their families.”
A spokesperson for Children in Need said: "We have been pleased to fund Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis since 2012. Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis’ three-year grant recently came to the end of its term, and their subsequent application for new funding was unsuccessful.
"This decision was in no way connected to the support of male victims, we award grants to charities regardless of gender."
The statement continued: “Although the public are extremely generous in their support each year, we simply don’t have the money to fund all of the projects that apply to us for grants and we have to make some really difficult decisions.
"We currently fund 313 projects to a value of £18.8 million in Scotland and receive thousands of funding applications every year from projects across the UK helping to change young lives.”
The group has received support from the White Ribbon Campaign, which aims to involve men in tackling violence against women.
A spokesman said: "After supporting Rape Crisis Glasgow and Clyde for six years Children in Need have decided to withdraw their funding because they do not think the centre does enough for men and boys.
"Rape Crisis Centres provide services to women and girls including trans women and Children in Need must have been aware of this throughout the funding period. Losing this funding has caused the centre manager to have to take the decision to shut down vital services for survivors of rape.
"With nearly 2,000 rapes and attempts being reported in Scotland every year and the demand on Rape Crisis Centres being greater than ever these services are essential. Given that more than 90% of all reported rapes are committed against women it would seem more appropriate for Children in Need to consider providing funding to services geared up for male survivors rather than withdrawing this award.”
A petition calling for the funding to be reinstated has received the backing of hundreds of people.
